2. Constitution
• What is a constitution?
• Why was there a need for a constitution?
• Why was the constitution dropped?
Fear of supranational power?
3. The Lisbon Treaty
• What is the Lisbon Treaty?
• Why is it important?
• In what way is it different from a constitution?
The Lisbon Treaty is no longer the “European Constitution”
5. Changes Introduced
• The commission: One commissioner per member state
• A stabilized European Council
President of European Council
Voice and face to EU
Representative of EU in the international arena
Chair and coordination of European Council’s work
• A high representative of the Union for Foreign affairs and Security policy
Vice President of the European Commission
6. Changes Introduced
• A new decision making process in the council of ministers
The concept of double majority
Approval from 55% of the member states which have more that 65% of the
population
A blocking majority has to include at least 4 member states
• Council of ministers will meet in public when a law is debated
A move towards democratization of EU
Main role is to approve European laws
7. Changes Introduced
• The European Parliament: A more influential institution
• Democratization of EU:
The Court of Justice
The “Ioannina Compromise”
Buys some time to oppose
• Extension of the qualified majority vote to new areas
• Greater say of national parliament
8. Citizen’s power in European Union
• The strengthening of the role played by the European Parliament
Legislative domain
Extension of legislative codecision procedure to new areas
Budgetary area
Equal right to decision as the Council of Ministers
Political control
• Participative Democracy
A million signs
Dialog between citizens, civil society and Union institutions.
Council of ministers sit in public
9. Abolition of the Pillar system
• Previous structure:
First pillar: The single market ( Supranational)
Second pillar: Common foreign policy(Inter-governmental)
Third pillar: Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
• Inter-governmental structure abolished
• Special voting procedure for common foreign and security policy retained
Replaces the second pillar
• Gives EU single legal personality
10. Competence sharing
• Who is responsible for what?
• Sharing of competence between the European Union and the Member States
Principle of conferred powers
• Types of competence
Exclusive to Union
Shared
Exclusive to member states
• No new exclusive competences to Union
11. Charter of fundamental rights
• Range of civil, political and social rights enjoyed by European Union’s
citizens
• Not legally binding due to too much opposition. A political declaration
instead. UK the major opposing force.
12. Economic Issues
• The recognition of the Eurogroup
• The stability and growth pact
Public deficit must be below 3%
Public debt must be below 60% of GDP
A very tight requirement?
• The European budget
Obligatory and Non-obligatory expenses
Unanimity needed in the financial framework
Bridging clause can transfer this to majority rule.
13. Enlargement policy
• Accession to EU (Copenhagen criteria)
Political criteria
Economic criteria
Community Acquis
• Withdrawal from European Union
Introduced for the first time
UK might use it
14. European Union’s external action
• Increase in EU’s international influence
Legal status
• European defense policy
Solidarity clause
European Defense Agency
No European Army
15. References
1. The European Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty
http://carleton.ca/ces/eulearning/politics/government/extension-the-
european-union-constitution-and-the-lisbon-treaty/
2. Europa – Treat of Lisbon http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/faq/index_en.htm
3. Wikipedia – Treaty of Lisbon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon
4. BBC News – Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6901353.stm
5. BBC News – Q&A: Charter of fundamental rights
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6225580.stm
6. Foundation Robert Schuman: Understanding the Lisbon Treaty
http://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/understanding-the-lisbon-treaty